Many new leftists struggle when reading theory. This is not unusual or surprising. Socialist theory is often dense and complicated, full of new ideas and concepts you’re likely unfamiliar with.
If you read theory as an individual, as a single reader disconnected from other comrades, you will have a difficult time with it. If, on the other hand, you read with your comrades, with your friends or your family or your coworkers, together you will develop an understanding of the revolutionary theory much more effectively than you could individually.
In a reading group, each person will notice certain things others might miss. Each person will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table. By interacting with each other and discussing a work together, you will be able to explore a work from multiple angles, not just from one.
Through the process of atomization, capitalism divides workers, separating them into increasingly isolated units, lacking connections with each other and within themselves. This is not only emotionally destructive, but it actively fights against the socialist cause. Socialism is a collective movement, it is the unified masses of the working people coming together to overthrow the oppressive dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. This mass
movement requires organization. It cannot be merely a social trend; it must be a united force of workers working together as a cohesive unit for a single end goal.
A reading group is the smallest, simplest, and most basic kind of leftist organization you can have, and it is therefore the easiest to create. All you have to do is invite your comrades to come read with you.
Once your group is founded, it does not need to remain as a small book club. You can bring in more people. You can go beyond reading books, to working together, to taking direct action in your local area, to protesting together and to joining larger, already established parties. What matters most is that you, revolutionary minded leftists, are gathering together and working to build the foundations of socialism.
If you want to build socialism, start by meeting with your comrades.
